ABSTRACT
Discovery, invasion by Ponce de Leon in 1509.—Disposi tions and conduct o f the natives.— Neglect the use o f poisoned arrows.— Submit to their invaders, but soon raise an insurrection.— Anecdote o f Broyo, a Cacique.— Reduced once more to servitude, and finally exterminated. — Unsuccessfully invaded by Sir Francis Drake.— Taken and plundered by the Earl o f Cumberland\ but abandoned, through disease.— Remains unimproved to the present hour.— Refections on its condition.—Situation, soil, adaptation fo r trade.— Observations on the poison o f the Lianes, and on that o f the MancheneeL-Natural productions.— of religion,
T h e extensive Island of Porto Rica is more easily distinguishable upon the map, than known, either in the political or commercial world; and the reason of the latter is, because it has almost uniformly belonged to Spain. Its history can furnish but little variety; it has uniformly been the habitation of indolence, and on that account has been exempted from most of those vicissi tudes, which furnish death with victims, the warrior with spoils, and the historian with materials.
